How to run Statute Of Limitations in DocketMath for Philippines

Step-by-step

This guide explains how to run Statute of Limitations (i.e., prescription of actions) in DocketMath for the Philippines (PH) using jurisdiction-aware rules. This is a practical workflow—not legal advice.

1) Open the PH calculator

1. Go to the Statute of Limitations tool: /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Set Jurisdiction = Philippines (PH).

2) Choose the claim type that matches your situation

In DocketMath, the claim type you select drives the prescription period the tool applies. Use the closest match so the mapped period lines up with your claim.

PH claim-type periods used by the calculator:

• Breach (oral contract): 6 years
• Breach (written contract): 10 years
• Fraud: 4 years
• Libel: 1 year
• Slander: 1 year
• Wrongful death: 4 years
• Personal injury: 4 years
• Medical malpractice: 4 years
• Premises liability: 4 years
• Product liability: 4 years
• Labor money claims: 3 years
• Legal malpractice: 4 years
• Real actions over immovables: 30 years
• Residuary / general rule: 10 years

Tip: If your situation could fit multiple categories, run the calculator using the top two plausible claim types and compare the outputs—then sanity-check which mapping best fits your case facts.

3) Enter the start date (when the clock begins in the tool)

DocketMath requires a start date. This should correspond to the point at which prescription is considered to begin to run for your chosen claim type.

To choose a start date consistently:

• Identify the event you believe starts prescription for your chosen claim type.
• Enter that event date as the tool’s start date.
• Avoid “mixing” dates (for example, don’t use a filing/consultation date if the tool expects the underlying accrual/event date).

This step is where most output differences come from.

4) Apply tolling (if applicable)

The PH calculator includes tolling support, including mental incapacity tolling.

To apply tolling in DocketMath:

1. Find the tolling section/options.
2. Enable mental incapacity tolling only if your facts align with that basis.
3. Run the calculation again to see how the expiration date shifts.

5) Decide whether to model interruption

The PH prescription framework also allows for interruption of prescription through Civil Code mechanisms.

In DocketMath, interruption is typically handled via:

• an option/toggle (whether interruption occurred), and
• an interruption date (if the tool requests it).

Use interruption inputs only when you have a basis that fits the tool’s interruption feature.

6) Run the calculation and review the output

After you submit:

• DocketMath returns an end/expiration date (your computed prescription end) based on:

  • the claim type period,
  • the start date,
  • any tolling toggles applied (e.g., mental incapacity), and
  • any interruption modeling entered.

If your result looks inconsistent, it’s usually due to claim-type selection, start date selection, or tolling/interruption inputs.

7) Sanity-check the result with category logic

Before relying on the computed date, do a quick mapping check:

• If your claim is contract-based, confirm you selected oral vs. written contract breach.
• If it’s defamation, confirm you selected libel or slander.
• If it’s injury/incident-related, confirm the tool mapping matches the fact pattern (e.g., personal injury vs. medical malpractice vs. premises/product liability).
• If it’s a real action over immovables, confirm you used real actions over immovables (30 years)—this category is significantly longer than most others.

8) Save/document your inputs

Keep a short record of what you entered so you can reproduce the run:

This is especially helpful if you rerun with a different claim type or without tolling.

Common pitfalls

1. Picking the wrong claim type category

   • Example: choosing fraud vs. breach of contract changes the calculator’s mapped period (fraud: 4 years; oral contract: 6 years; written contract: 10 years; etc.).

2. Using the wrong start date

   • The output end date depends heavily on the tool’s start date input. If you enter the wrong event date, the deadline will shift accordingly.

3. Turning on tolling when it doesn’t apply

   • The PH calculator includes mental incapacity tolling. If you enable it without corresponding facts, your result may extend longer than intended.

4. Applying interruption without a tool-recognized basis

   • Interruption should be modeled only when it fits the tool’s interruption feature and your timeline supports it.

5. Forgetting the special long period for real actions over immovables

   • If the action is a real action over immovables, the calculator’s mapped period is 30 years. Selecting a shorter general category will produce a dramatically different outcome.

Try it

1. Open the calculator at /tools/statute-of-limitations
2. Set PH (Philippines).
3. Select a claim type.
4. Enter:

   • a start date aligned to the event/accrual point for that claim type, and
   • enable mental incapacity tolling only if it applies.
5. Run and note the computed expiration date.

Quick self-check scenarios (for testing your workflow):

• Oral contract breach: pick Breach (oral contract) and use the breach/accrual event date as the start date (6 years period mapping).
• Written contract breach: pick Breach (written contract) and use the written breach/accrual event date (10 years period mapping).
• Fraud: pick Fraud (4 years) and ensure you didn’t select a contract-breach category.
• Libel/Slander: pick Libel or Slander (1 year) and double-check the claim type selection.
• Real actions over immovables: pick Real actions over immovables (30 years) only if the action truly fits that category.

When reviewing results, confirm:

• The claim type matches the legal character you intended (so the period mapping matches).
• The start date you entered is the event/accrual date expected for that claim type.
• Tolling/interruption options are used only when your facts match the tool inputs.

Related reading

• Statute of limitations in United States (Federal): how to estimate the deadline — Full how-to guide with jurisdiction-specific rules
• Why statute of limitations results differ in United States (Federal) — Troubleshooting when results differ
• Statute of limitations reference snapshot for United States (Federal) — Rule summary with authoritative citations